PNGBLOGS

HE is better known in the Morobe political and business circles but the day had to arrive when Mathew Minape decided he will return to the land of his ancestors – Enga – for the big one. Minape hopes to end the unbroken run of “action governor” Peter Ipatas in the Enga regional seat. His message to the people is simple: “When Engans do not vote for Ipatas, they are saving the future of Enga.” The Lae-based Enga businessman is confident of causing a major upset in the election and has named Ipatas as his enemy number one, labelling him the “media governor”. He said Ipatas used the media in particular EMTV and other print media to replay his outdated education programme for his own political gain. Minape challenged the main media organisations to be balanced and report fairly. He asked the media to visit places such as Kompiam, Kandep and Porgera where road infrastructure and law and order were deteriorating. “There is no basic medicine at Laiagam and Kandep health centres. “There

HE is better known in the Morobe political and business circles but the day had to arrive when Mathew Minape decided he will return to the land of his ancestors – Enga – for the big one. Minape hopes to end the unbroken run of “action governor” Peter Ipatas in the Enga regional seat. His message to the people is simple: “When Engans do not vote for Ipatas, they are saving the future of Enga.” The Lae-based Enga businessman is confident of causing a major upset in the election and has named Ipatas as his enemy number one, labelling him the “media governor”. He said Ipatas used the media in particular EMTV and other print media to replay his outdated education programme for his own political gain. Minape challenged the main media organisations to be balanced and report fairly. He asked the media to visit places such as Kompiam, Kandep and Porgera where road infrastructure and law and order were deteriorating. “There is no basic medicine at Laiagam and Kandep health cen

The Commonwealth bloc of nations has called on Papua New Guinea to respect the rule of law and the judiciary’s independence after its chief justice was charged with sedition. The Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma urged restraint in a country embroiled in a messy political deadlock where both Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and former prime minister Sir Michael Somare have declared themselves the rightful leader. On Monday the Supreme Court ruled for the second time that Mr O’Neill’s rise to power while Sir Michael was recovering from illness was illegal and that he should be reinstated. Mr O’Neill claimed the judiciary was biased and rejected the decision, leading Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and 10 police to storm the court Thursday and arrest Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. Papua New Guinea police confirmed Sir Salamo had been charged with sedition and appeared in court Friday morning. Later on Friday, reports also came in that a group of about 20 police had blocked t

The Commonwealth bloc of nations has called on Papua New Guinea to respect the rule of law and the judiciary’s independence after its chief justice was charged with sedition. The Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma urged restraint in a country embroiled in a messy political deadlock where both Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and former prime minister Sir Michael Somare have declared themselves the rightful leader. On Monday the Supreme Court ruled for the second time that Mr O’Neill’s rise to power while Sir Michael was recovering from illness was illegal and that he should be reinstated. Mr O’Neill claimed the judiciary was biased and rejected the decision, leading Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and 10 police to storm the court Thursday and arrest Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia. Papua New Guinea police confirmed Sir Salamo had been charged with sedition and appeared in court Friday morning. Later on Friday, reports also came in that a group of about 20 police h

Papua New Guinea's governor-general has washed his hands of both sides of the nation's political dispute, with his office saying he will not sign any documents until a government is formed after the election. A senior member of the office of Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio says the head of state has refused to sign any documents presented by parliamentary elected prime minister Peter O'Neill or from his court-appointed rival for the top job, Sir Michael Somare. The spokesman says the governor-general has also refused to sign an instrument recalling parliament for a special sitting last week in which the government voted for a state of emergency in three provinces including the capital, Port Moresby "No documents have been received by the governor-general and that includes the state of emergency (declared by parliament on Friday)," the spokesman, who declined to be named, told AAP on Sunday. He said Sir Michael Ogio had refused to sign the document approving Frid

Papua New Guinea's governor-general has washed his hands of both sides of the nation's political dispute, with his office saying he will not sign any documents until a government is formed after the election. A senior member of the office of Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio says the head of state has refused to sign any documents presented by parliamentary elected prime minister Peter O'Neill or from his court-appointed rival for the top job, Sir Michael Somare. The spokesman says the governor-general has also refused to sign an instrument recalling parliament for a special sitting last week in which the government voted for a state of emergency in three provinces including the capital, Port Moresby "No documents have been received by the governor-general and that includes the state of emergency (declared by parliament on Friday)," the spokesman, who declined to be named, told AAP on Sunday. He said Sir Michael Ogio had refused to sign the document approving

PAPUA New Guinea MPs have voted to declare a state of emergency in the nation's capital after rogue police officers surrounded Parliament House. If adopted, the emergency rule would give increased powers to PNG's police commissioner to arrest and detain. The leader of government business, Moses Maladina, put the motion yesterday at a special sitting of Parliament and it is expected to come into force today. The government also voted to reject the decision of three Supreme Court judges to reinstate Sir Michael Somare as the nation's leader. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said cabinet would meet last night to prepare advice for Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, who must approve the state of emergency. Mr O'Neill said the state of emergency would be extended to trouble spots such as the Southern Highlands and Hela province, site of a multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project. ''This has never happened in our country since the Sandline crisis of 1996,'